BY GEORGINA KEKEA Bonn, Germany THE Solomon Islands Delegation to the Climate Change Conference in Germany are bringing to the table for discussions some very key priority areas for the country and the Pacific as a whole.  Speaking to the Solomon Islands media in Bonn, Germany, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management & Meteorology, Dr Melchior Mataki said they have already identified the key areas they would like to see make progress in this conference.  The 4 key areas which they have identified are; the global action for reduction of gas emissions, a clear pathway for the Paris Agreement, loss and damage and the fourth one is for the adaptation fund be made a mechanism for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Solomon Islands delegation to COP23 with 2 Officials from PIFS (Photo by Jared Koli)  In this list of key areas for Solomon Islands, what is very crucial at this point in time are the mains...

The majority of national climate plans with an adaptation component which have been submitted under the  Paris Climate Change Agreement  prioritise action on water, yet financing would need to triple to 255 billion euros (about USD295 billion) per year to meet such targets. This  was a key message of the international water community on Friday at their Action event during the  COP23  UN Climate Change Conference. “Sustainable use of water for multiple purposes must remain a way of life and needs to be at the centre of building resilient cities and human settlements and ensuring food security in a climate change context,” said Mariet Verhoef-Cohen, President of the Women for Water Partnership, and Co-Chair of Water Scarcity in Agriculture Platform (WASAG). The international water community co-signed what it called a “nature based solution declaration” at the opening of the Water Action Day to encourage the use of natural systems in managing healthy water...

THE Parliamentary Opposition Group has raised concerns calling for investigations into the bribery claims raised by the Australian media regarding the undersea cable project. In a statement today, the Opposition Group said serious allegations raised by the international media revealing a SBD $40 Million political donation from Huawei Technologies to the Prime Minister and other senior ministers must be investigated by Janus and the police. “These are serious allegations and it must be investigated,” it said. The Opposition statement said it is aware that this was also one of the reasons why the Prime Minister and his Government has bypassed procurement requirements in favor of Huawei; and without proper procurement processes. “The Opposition is also aware that these alleged bribery claims is one of the main reasons Australia have reportedly pulled out of the undersea cable deal; as well as other donors such as the Asian Development Bank,” it said. The Opposition Group des...

A Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC) will soon be established under the auspices of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI).  This was announced during the signing of a Grant Agreement between SICCI and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA). Through the Grant Agreement, MWYCFA will provide funds amounting to $200,000 to meet the cost of setting up the council. SICCI will also provide additional resources including support services. In his official remarks, SICCI Chair Mr Bartlett commended the leadership and commitment of the Government through MWYCFA for having foresight to collaborate and invest in a Young Entrepreneurs Council through the provision of funds for its establishment. Jay Bartlett (SICCI Chair) & Justus Denni (Supervising PS, MWYCFA) signs agreement The Chair also highlighted the importance of the council "The Young Entrepreneurs Council will provide a platform for our young and talented you...

The Minister of Finance and Treasury, Hon. Snyder Rini will officially launch the Tax Review Consultation Programme in Honiara this Friday August 25. Following the launch, the Tax Review Consultation Committee (TRCC) will conduct and open consultation session. Attendees will be able to listen to a presentation on the review and will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide insights and feedback on the current tax regime. The current tax structure in Solomon Islands has been largely unchanged for decades, imposes a very high tax burden when compared to other Pacific Island countries and outdated, inefficient, complex and expensive to administer. It is anti-competitive and does not promote economic growth. The open consultation session will focus on 1) tax administrative issues, and 2) consumption taxes, as the first two components of Stage 1 of the Tax Review. The review of tax administrative issues aims to improve the administration of the tax system by ensuring a well-fun...

Two reshuffled cabinet ministers have been sworn-in by the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui at Government yesterday. Hon. Stanley Festus Sofu has been sworn-in as the new Minister for the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID). Hon. John Moffat Fugui has been sworn-in as the Minister for the Ministry of Public Service. The reshuffle exercise was undertaken to ensure Ministers effectively perform their duties and to maintain effective service delivery to people. Former Minister for Infrastructure Development Hon. Jimmy Lusibaea was relieved of his duties while the former Minister of Pubic Service Hon. John Dean Kuku is now the Minister for Education and Human Resources Development. ENDS///

The public has been warned again to respect the current bech-de mer (Sea Cucumber) ban following the confiscation of more than 50 kilograms of dried beche-de mer at a warehouse in Auki, Malaita Province. A combined raid by Compliance officers from the Ministry of Fisheries and Police on a warehouse at the Malaita Provincial capital, Auki has found more than 50 kilograms of dried beche-de-mer early this week. The raid was conducted following a tip off that a certain businessman at the Malaita Provincial capital is engaged in buying beche-de-mer despite the ban. Police and fisheries officers raided the property and confiscated the beche-de-mer products and also arrested the businessman. Director of Fisheries Mr. Edward Honiwala confirmed the raid saying that it should serve as warning to others who are still involve in illegal harvesting of beche-de-mer to stop or face the consequence. “The ban is still in place and those who engage in harvesting the product are doin...